Criminal Justice Program

Steve Feimer, Program Director
Dakota Hall, Room 119
(605) 677-5706
Steve.Feimer@usd.edu
http://www.usd.edu/criminaljustice

FACULTY:

Professor:

Michael Roche, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Law and Society, Justice and Compassion

Associate Professors:

Steve Feimer, Policing Administration, Crime Mapping, White Collar Crime, Research Methods, Criminal Profiling, and Environmental Law and Policy
Sandy McKeown, Juvenile Justice, Ethics in Criminal Justice Writing and Research in Criminal Justice, Mock Trial, Criminal Prosecution and Defense

Assistant Professors:

Yumi Suzuki, Victimology, Comparative Criminal Justice, Immigrants and Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Education

Instructors:

Kevin Heineman, Criminal Investigation
Connie Nelsen, Counseling and Rehabilitation

MAJOR:

Criminal Justice, B.A., B.S.

DOUBLE MAJOR:

Criminal Justice/Political Science
Criminal Justice/Sociology

MINOR:

Criminal Justice

The Criminal Justice Studies program is an interdisciplinary study of crime and justice in our society. Criminal Justice Studies emphasizes the key components of police, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice in the criminal justice processes of our local, state, and federal governments. Beyond the basic required courses, students can pursue advanced courses in many areas, including the historical, international, social science, and legal facets of criminal justice studies.

As a unit within the College of Arts and Sciences, the Criminal Justice Studies program at the University of South Dakota has a primary objective to provide instruction that will foster liberal arts and sciences education. Within this context, the program attempts to realize four major objectives:

To provide qualified personnel for all segments of the criminal justice system, as well as many related agencies of government;
To improve the competencies and professional status of existing criminal justice personnel, as well as provide research and educational assistance to criminal justice agencies;
To build a foundation for responsible citizenship by creating a better public understanding of the criminal justice system wherein the great questions of the relationship of the individual to the state are most intensely presented; and,
To provide a sound basic education in criminal justice for graduates who choose to pursue masters, doctoral, and law degrees after graduation.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Please note that the Farber Fund also provides over $100,000 available annually for Criminal Justice/Political Science majors to attend conferences, participate in study tours and departmental trips, complete internships, travel abroad, and carry out research. See http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/criminal-justice/scholarships-and-awards.cfm

Our department prides itself on the number and quality of awards given out each year to qualified students:

Farber Fund Awards (available to entering first-year students)
Farber Fund Writing Awards (available to seniors for outstanding papers of at least 20 pages)
Philip T. Roche Service to Others Award (awarded to a Criminal Justice or Political Science major who has a sense of community service and a desire to help others)
Spader Scholarship (awarded to a Criminal Justice major who has an interest in mediation and conflict resolution)
South Dakota Fraternal Order of Police Award (given to Criminal Justice majors to promote the study of, and careers in, Criminal Justice)
Frank L. “Jeff” Scott Memorial Award (given to a Criminal Justice major who has at least a 3.0 GPA and financial need)
South Dakota Sheriff’s Association Awards (given to two Criminal Justice majors who have an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement)
Philo Sherman Bennett Prize (given for the best essay dealing with the principles of free government)
Dillon Outstanding Senior Award (awarded to an outstanding senior criminal justice major based on overall performance and potential)
Don Beaty Award (awarded to a self-supporting major, resident of South Dakota, with special interests in the State of South Dakota)
South Dakota Municipal League Scholarship (awarded to sophomore or junior with an aptitude for, and interest in, local government)
Robert D. Falk Award (available to a sophomore or junior SD resident with an interest in state and local government and with leadership potential)
Faculty Appreciation Award (given to a student whose contributions most helped the department)
Blair Tremere Awards (available to undergraduates who show promise and responsibility as well as an interest in public service in this area)